"Cheers & Jeers: 2014's Best and Worst in TV" (TV Guide)

[JamesG]

Cheers & Jeers: 2014's Best and Worst in TV
by Damian Holbrook, Michael Logan, Rob Moyniham, Matt Roush and Ileane Rudolph
Dec. 22, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015 Double Issue




CHEERS


- To Academy Awards host Ellen Degeneres for putting Hollywood royalty at ease while entertaining viewers at home.

Whether ordering pizza for the famished audience or getting the stars to pose for a selfie that broke Twitter, Ellen stole the show.

Give her an Honorary Oscar.





- To great, fully realized LGBT characters on "Orange Is the New Black", "Transparent", "How To Get Away with Murder", "Shameless", "Gotham", "Glee", "Faking It" , "Looking" and so many more.

Finally, TV has caught on that not everyone is straight, white or stereotypical.





- To "The Walking Dead's" Carol (Melissa McBride), who has evolved from domestic-abuse victim to warrior goddess of the zombie apolcalypse.

She single-handedly rescued her tribe from the Terminus compound while hewing to a survival-at-all-costs code. Between her and the record ratings, "The Walking Dead" is more alive than ever.





- To the "glimmer twins" of figure skating commentary, fashionista scene-stealers Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir.

Through broadcasting on the smaller NBCSN network, the pair received raves for the barbed banter at the Winter Olympics, which earned them a promotion to NBC's A team after they worked their stylish magic at the Oscars and Kentucky Derby, too.

Here's looking at you, because how could we not?





- To "The Good Wife" for spoiler-free TV. It's not easy to blindside your audience, but that's exactly what producers of the legal drama did when they killed off Josh Charles' lawyer Will Gardner.

Without a warning or script leak on the Internet, viewers could do nothing but watch in stunned disbelief the night the episode aired. So. Good.





- To the gritty, gamy, turn-off-the-last century hospital drama "The Knick" and the tireless virtuosity of its sole director, Steven Soderbergh.

With propulsive camera work and naturalistic lighting, he made us believe we were in the most primitive of operating theaters, and we felt lucky to get out in one piece.





- To Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright for playing political animals with bite on "House of Cards".

Wright was particualarly sizzling in Season 2 as her ferocious Claire Underwood used her history of sexual abuse to lobby for political influence and cozu up to the First Lady.

We hope these cards never fail.





- To "The Simpsons" for never showing its age. After 26 seasons, the show still has the ability to astound - most memorably with its 550th episode, an inspired all-LEGO alt-world fantasy.

"Futurama" and "Family Guy" also came to play, and Fox launched The Simpsons World app and website, where fans can watch every episode.

Springfield forever!





- To "The Flash" for hitting the ground running.

"Arrow's" speedy spin-off debuted as the highest-rated launch in The CW's history and sent our hearts racing each week with a mix of action, comedy and comic book coolness that was only revved up by December's epic "Arrow" - "Flash" crossover.





- To the bonnie of a treat that is "Outlander".

Lush, lusty and perfectly cast with Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe as star-crossed soul mates, the lavish, faithful adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's time-traveling book series was the hottest Saturday date that we've had in centuries.





- To Emmy Rossum on "Shameless". Her self-sabotaging libertine Fiona Gallagher was as maddening as she was endearing, especially when she hit the slammer for violating parole and left her latchkey siblings to fend for themselves.

Her peformance was brilliant and blistering, so why no Emmy for Emmy? Hey, TV Academy, that's shameless!





- To "Castle's" happily wedded couple.

After six-and-a-half seasons of fighting, flirting and sparkling back-and-forths, Beckett and Castle finally promised to be partners in crime and life, kicking off a whole new chapter for everyone's favorite mystery wrtier and his case-cracking wife.





- To "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" for breaking news into bits that are relevant, riotous and so rewatchable.

YouTube his genius sit-down with Stephen Hawking or his tirade on FIFA's World Cup corruption and you'll agree that the excitable, insightful "Daily Show" vet is doing Jon Stewart proud.





- To "Banshee" for proving that human monsters can be plenty scary too.

The villains who made us scream like... well, banshees in Season 2 included the now deceased Ukrianian mobster Rabbit (Ben Cross), the very much alive Native American warrior Chayton Littlestone (Geno Segers) and Amish crime lord Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen).

We can't wait to see who antihero sherriff Lucas Hood (Anthony Starr) faces off against next.





- To Comedy Central's uproarious lineup.

The cable network may be losing Stepen Colbert to CBS next year, but its current slate of original series - including "Key & Peele", "Inside Amy Schumer", "Nathan for You", "South Park" and newcomer "Broad City" - is possibly its strongest in history.

The shows have even made national headlines thanks to "Schumer's" thought-provoking military-rape sketch and "Nathan's" Innovative Dumb Starbucks prank.





- To "Once Upon a Time" for it's red-hot Frozen arc.

Bringing the wildy popular Anna and Elsa to Storybrooke may have seemed like a Mouse House marketing gimmick, but it was also a genius move worthy of Walt Disney himself.

The result has been one riveting cold case.





- To the return, if only for three episodes, of the dazzling "Sherlock", brought to life by the electrifying Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as his long-suffering Dr. Watson.

No slight intended to "Elementary", but the mind-bending intrigues of this series are the real deal, worth the extra-long wait between seasons.





- To Bethenny Frankel's return to "The Real Housewives of New York City".

If there's anyone who can get the NYC edition back on track, it's the mouthy, now divorced failed talk show host and the unfiltered fabulousity. Crack open the Skinnygirl and warn LuAnn!





- To "NCIS" for making spin-offs look so Big Easy.

With Gibbs and Co. helping establish the newest team in New Orleans, led by Scott Bakula, the world's most popular franchise continues to dominate.





- To ABC's TGIT scheduling strategy. Like a more diverse Aaron Spelling, producer Shonda Rhimes has us in total lather with her Thursday trinity of "Grey's Anatomy", "Scandal" and "How To Get Away with Murder".

Now, when can we expect a three-way crossover?





- To Kathy Bates' freakishly good turn on "American Horror Story: Freak Show".

Forget the beard and bizarre accent, Bates brought heart and humanity to her role as bearded lady Ethel Darling that made the hirsute troupe member to come into the AHS tent.





- To "The Comeback" for getting a comeback of its own.

HBO finally made up for axing the awkwardly awesome Lisa Kudrow comedy nine years ago, and the new episodes were truly something to cherish. We need to see more of that.





- To "Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways" for taking us on a rocking adventure.

The docu-series featured the band as they recorded a song for their new album in a different city each week. It not only gave insight into what inspires Dave Grohl, but also showed how music influences American culture.





- To Matthew McConaughey for hypnotizing us with dark soliloquies throughout the eight mystifying hours of "True Detective".

As rambling Rush Cohle, a poet of existentuial despair, his nihillistic "Time is a flat circle" philosophy drove partner Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) to distraction, but McConaughey had us glued.





- To "Late Night with Seth Meyers" for getting it right.

After a shaky start, the show has found its groove by capitalizing on the SNL vet's brainy brand of comedy and focusing more on guests than gimmicky bits.

Plus, how can you not love a host who booked his equally hilarious family for a Thanksgiving episode?





- To "The Leftovers" for its enthralling bleakness.

The highlight of this dark series, about what happens after 2% of the world's population suddenly disappears, was Carrie Coon's breathtaking performance as a woman who loses her entire family during the departure.

Thankfully, we'll get a second serving slated to air in 2015.





- To Viola Davis for killing it on "How To Get Away with Murder".

We're not sure what's scarier: how ferocious her Annalise Keating is as a law professor and scorned wife or how fierce the Oscar-nominee is at playing every warts-and-all facet of network TV's most complex new character.





- To having a more diverse complexion on TV comedies. The provocative "black-ish" and spunky "Cristela" gives humorous voices to underrepresented minority family life.

Kudos as well to "Jane the Virgin" for its wacky spin on the telenova and the timely "Surivor's Remorse", about a young Afirican-American basketball superstar and his family entourage.





- To Robin Lord Taylor as "Gotham's" Penquin.

With pathos, flair and bursts of wide-eyed psychosis, the scene-stealer has turned what could have been a typically goofy baddie into the scariest angry bird ever and proven that the pre-Batman drama doesn't need a caped crusader to soar.





- To the rebranded WGN America.

The promosing new network cut through the cable clutter with two winners: "Salem" and "Manhattan".





- To "24" for successfully springing back into action.

The drama, which was resurrected after four years, saw Jack Bauer travel across the pond to prevent drone attacks and a potential global catastrophe.

Yvonne Strahovski helped infuse the reboot with plenty of new energy to maintain its heart-pounding pace, and the shocking thrills of the original remained blissfully intact.

Welcome back, Jack.











JEERS


- To "Extant" for not living up to the out-of-this-world hype.

Halle Berry's first starring vehicle on TV was met with great fanfare this summer. But her series, in which she plays an astronaut who discovers she's pregnant after an extended solo mission, failed to launch.

Bizarre elements like a robot child further muddled the concept and the buzz quickly crashed down to Earth. Let's hope Season 2's takeoff is less turbulent.





- To Lindsay Lohan for being so not fetch.

Despite promises of tantrums and high drama, the train wreck's OWN docu-series, "Lindsay", was a snoozer filled with shopping trips, chain-smoking and sobreity blatherings that made less sense than I Know Who Killed Me.





- To the brand new "View".

Despite the controversial Rosie O'Donnell returning to the table, the revamped chatfest is still lacking joy, as in the firebrand funny lady Joy Behar, who should be brought back to help Whoopi whip this once must-see show back into shape.





- To TV's infatuation with rom-coms. The gimmicky "Manahattan Love Story" was the fall's first cancellation, and tepid "A to Z" barely made it to "C" before fading.

We understand the desire to create the next "How I Met Your Mother", but these series also have to earn our love. Originallity would be a start.





- To "The Bachelor's" prickly Juan Pablo.

After a romp with hopeful Clare in the Vietnam surf, the Latin lover called their beach rendezvous "a mistake" and then ditched her in the finale for nurse Nikki - whom, by the way, he didn't even propose to or say that he loved.

No bueno.





- To "Partners" for misusing two comedy icons.

Not even the talents of stars Martin Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer could save this stale sitcom about odd-couple lawyers forced to work together on wacky cases. We object!





- To anyone who isn't Neil Patrick Harris.

He's going to be the next Oscars host, will be getting his own NBC variety show, filmed an arc on "American Horror Story: Freak Show", won a Tony... he'll probably cure Ebola.

And he's seriously making the rest of Hollywood look like a bunch of beautiful, overpaid slackers.





- To Hugh Jackman for hopping to the Tony Awards in a bizarre opening number that set the stage for a charmlessly hyperative hosting gig.

We don't meant to break out our Wolverine claws, but what gives, Hugh?





- To the scandal-plagued NFL.

Abuse charges against Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson shifted the drama away from the field. It's hard to be ready for some football when the league is having more offensive problems than its teams.





- To "Bad" shows.

"Bad Teacher" and "Bad Judge" both lived down to their titles with vulgar displays of broad boorishness. The result? Bad ratings.





- To HBO finale fails.

"Boardwalk Empire" and "True Blood" were both true blah.





- To "American Horror Story: Freak Show" for bringing Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch) into this world.

The gross-mask, the torture porn bus in the woods, the blown off face... we don't care if demonic Mordrake killed the monstrous madman - he'll live on in our nightmares forever.

Not cool, Ryan Murply. Not cool!





- To A&E for canceling the contemporary Western "Longmire", one of its more popular shows, because the loyal audience skewed old and letting the series go on a cliffhangar.

But, CHEERS to Netflix for picking up the fourth season!





- To reality show stars for getting too real.

Between "Real Housewives" prison stints for "New Jersey's" Teresa and Joe Giudice and "Atlanta's" Apollo Nida, "Honey Boo Boo's" sex offender scandal and "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson's anti-homosexual behavior... we're starting to miss the staged drama of unscripted TV.





- To TV pirates who could have used more swash in the buckles.

NBC's "Crossbones" with John Malkovich as a fobbish Blackbeard, Starz' "Black Sails" featuring a pre-Long John Silver and even Christopher Walken on Peter Pan Live! felt boringly becalmed, eliticing yawns when we'd hoped for more a rousing "Arrrgh!"





- To Emmy voters for the same old, same old. We're not entirely sure the 2014 ceremony, which featured repeat winner after repeat winner, wasn't a return.

Maybe we should send them all a subscription to they can see what else is on... like "Orphan Black" featurng Tatiana Maslany's great work.





- To John Travolta for his award-worthy gaffe.

While introducing Idina Menzel's performance of the Frozen megahit 'Let It Go' at the Oscars, he butchered the Broadway superstar's name by introducing her as "Adele Dazeem".

He later apologized directly to her, but we just can't let it go.





- To "How I Met Your Mother's" swan song.

It was bad enough to waste the entire final season on Robin and Barney's wedding, but to have that popular couple divorce and then have the titular mother die, just so Ted could end up with Robin?

We waited for legendary and we got lame.





- To "Mulaney" for squandering the talent of creator and star John Mulaney.

We've always been a big fan of the former SNL writer, but his multicam sitcom feels like a "Seinfeld" rip-off without the laughs, thanks to the uninspired storylines and the lack of chemistry among the overcrowded cast.





- To unnecessary remakes.

The bland mini-series Rosemary's Baby was a crying shame and "Gracepoint" was a clumsy carbon copy of the acclaimed British mystery "Broadchurch".





- To Don Lemon for too many thoughtless gaffes.

First, the CNN anchor suggested to one of Bill Cosby's alleged sex abuse victims that she could have stopped the assault. Then, while covering the Ferguson protests, he reported that "Obviosuly, there's a smell of marijuana in the air."

Really, Don? What's obvious is how much you put your foor in your own mouth.

[Mace Dolex]

- To "The Flash" for hitting the ground running.

"Arrow's" speedy spin-off debuted as the highest-rated launch in The CW's history and sent our hearts racing each week with a mix of action, comedy and comic book coolness that was only revved up by December's epic "Arrow" - "Flash" crossover.

It's decent so far but too formulaic with it's freak villian of the week plots but the guy playing Flash is pretty good unlike some other actors his age.

- To "Mulaney" for squandering the talent of creator and star John Mulaney.

We've always been a big fan of the former SNL writer, but his multicam sitcom feels like a "Seinfeld" rip-off without the laughs, thanks to the uninspired storylines and the lack of chemistry among the overcrowded cast.

SNL has a multitude of writers pitching sketches all the time how do we know if he wrote any funny ones? his sketches were probably as dull as his TV personality.

- To Robin Lord Taylor as "Gotham's" Penquin.

With pathos, flair and bursts of wide-eyed psychosis, the scene-stealer has turned what could have been a typically goofy baddie into the scariest angry bird ever and proven that the pre-Batman drama doesn't need a caped crusader to soar.

About the only good thing in the show, they finally made Penguin cool and dangerous, the rest of the show is just ok, not great but ok.

- To having a more diverse complexion on TV comedies. The provocative "black-ish" and spunky "Cristela" gives humorous voices to underrepresented minority family life.

I can withstand black-ish for a lack of a laughtrack because some of the jokes can be a hit or miss but Cristela is just abusing the use of a laughtrack that I'd like one episode without a laughtrack to prove to viewers are really bad it is.

[ajgenard]

Yet again, these yearly retrospective articles come out and sitcoms as a whole are proven to be in a state of disrepair. WTF has happened? Sitcoms were the backbone of TV for decades. They have become so bland and almost guaranteed to suck that most writers who cover television can't even be bothered to hate on them too much anymore. Anybody who thinks comedy is doing just fine is only kidding themselves. It's no longer water cooler talk. Sitcoms are slowly but surely becoming the jazz music of television.

[80sTrivia]

I believe you covered it all! Great post!